Patents Examined by Sara S. Raab
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Patent number: 5690421Abstract: A narrow band light source is combined with a narrow band filter on the face of a traffic light to reduce the problem of sun glare reflected from one traffic light, reducing intensity of the sunlight glare while light from the narrow band source passes through the filter essentially unattenuated, allowing system efficiency to remain high.Type: GrantFiled: September 25, 1995Date of Patent: November 25, 1997Assignee: Matsushita Electric Works R&D LabInventors: Michael Joseph Shea, Jakob Maya, John Francis Waymouth
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Patent number: 5544025Abstract: A nightlight is disclosed which includes, in a single unitary fixture, an outlet cover plate having a rearward extending set of male contacts which cover and plug directly into a first set of the duplex outlet receptacle contacts and a nightlight portion having extended life characteristics and extending forward of the cover plate. The unit simply and easily plugs into a standard duplex outlet. The plug may extend into a first one of the receptacles and the forward extending portion covers a second one of the receptacles. The cover plate and nightlight combination is simply secured with at least one ordinary screw fastener in such a manner as can be accomplished with a minimum level of skill, well within that of the ordinary homeowner.Type: GrantFiled: June 2, 1994Date of Patent: August 6, 1996Assignee: Standard Enterprises, Inc.Inventors: Perry P. Bohlool, George J. Ricci
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Patent number: 5526243Abstract: A decorative enclosure or cover is adjustably fitted over a low voltage light fixture. The light fixture is of the type that has a stake adapted to be partially inserted into the ground, a support extending upwardly from the stake, a light bulb assembly mounted atop the support, a light cover positioned over the light bulb assembly and a power source connected to the bulb assembly for supplying electricity to the same. The light cover includes a sleeve that extends downwardly from the bottom thereof. The sleeve is slidable along the support and has at least one opening formed therethrough. A screw is threaded through the opening in the sleeve wall in order to engage the support and maintain the enclosure in place.Type: GrantFiled: February 3, 1995Date of Patent: June 11, 1996Inventor: Jack W. Masters
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Patent number: 5483431Abstract: The present invention concerns a lamp which can be assembled easily by the end user and is generally made up of a socket element, a housing element, and an internal element. The housing element is capable of assuming two positions: a shipping position, in which the housing is flat, and an assembled position, in which the housing element is not flat and is capable of supporting the lamp fixture. The socket element is supported by the internal element which in turns helps maintain the housing element in its assembled position. Preferably, the housing element is composed of a front layer and a back layer which are coupled on at least two peripheral edges. In the assembled position these layers are separated forming an internal space in which the internal element and the socket element are located.Type: GrantFiled: October 27, 1993Date of Patent: January 9, 1996Inventor: Roberto Ziliani
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Patent number: 5469342Abstract: A light-strip apparatus including a flexible lower strip, a transparent flexible upper strip detachably engaged to the lower strip thus together forming a sheath, an elongated flexible light-emitting device being received in the sheath for emitting light, and a power box attached to a substantially central portion of the flexible light-emitting device for providing AC power to enable the flexible light-emitting device to flash. The flexible light-emitting device has a plurality of spots sequentially connected by interconnected lines and the spots and the lines will flash if the light-emitting device is electrified by the power box.Type: GrantFiled: January 25, 1994Date of Patent: November 21, 1995Inventor: Tseng L. Chien
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Patent number: 5321590Abstract: A vehicle headlight adjusting device includes a housing, a rotational member rotatably received in the housing, an adjusting screw with an end thereof coupled to a vehicle headlight to move therewith and passing through the housing and a threaded through hole in the rotational member, and a drive shaft with a gear securely coupled to an end thereof for engaging with annular teeth on the rotational member, whereby a rotational movement of the drive shaft is transformed into a linear movement of the adjusting screw to adjust the position of the vehicle headlight.Type: GrantFiled: June 7, 1993Date of Patent: June 14, 1994Inventor: Chun C. Wu
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Patent number: 5307250Abstract: A light-up coaster for beer bottles, and the like, has an outer housing in which is vertically-slidable an inner housing. The upper surface of the inner housing is used to support a bottle thereon, and a spring biases the inner housing upwardly. A pair of switches are controlled by the movement of the inner housing. The first switch is a normally-closed switch, and the second switch is a normally open switch. The two switches are arranged in series with a light bulb and battery power-source. When there is no bottle supported on the upper surface of the inner housing, the upper surface of the inner housing is raised by the spring to its highest level and into abutting contact with an interior, upper, annular lip of the outer housing. In this state, the first switch is closed but the second switch is open.Type: GrantFiled: May 4, 1993Date of Patent: April 26, 1994Inventor: Stephen J. Pearson
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Patent number: 5283721Abstract: A refrigerator includes an outer cabinet and an inner liner separated by insulation. The liner includes a plurality of walls defining a compartment to receive items to be refrigerated. An electric light is positioned adjacent to a first of the liner walls. A second of the liner walls disposed perpendicular to the first wall has three spaced apart slots positioned closer to the first wall than the light to the first wall. A shield is positioned between the light and the first wall and includes three tabs received in the slots in the second wall. The middle tab has a pair of lateral ears with rest positions angled with respect to the long axis of the corresponding slot. The ears flex as the tab is inserted through the slot and then return to their rest position to overlie the second liner wall. The other tabs also are angled with respect to their slots to firmly engage the second wall when installed.Type: GrantFiled: March 23, 1993Date of Patent: February 1, 1994Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventor: John M. Powell